Some of the prominent changes include a new layout with cover photo, highlighting features and the ability to edit and update without navigating to a separate page. Timeline will automatically go live for all brand pages Mar. 30

7. Ben & Jerry's Timeline

8. Ben & Jerry's milestone

Here, Ben & Jerry's uses the new format to call out an important company milestone -- its introduction of several new flavors in 1999.

9. Timeline makes Pages more social

When you visit a Page, you see how many of your friends have liked the company, as well as friends' relevant public posts. Here, Ben & Jerry's serves as an example.

10. Different cover photos for different Pages

Restaurants can leverage the new design by showing off what they serve. Here, Starbucks flaunts its coffee beans.

11. How many of your friends like Starbucks?

Further evidence of how Pages are more social with Timeline.

12. A local twist

Here, the Page of Manhattan's Magnolia Bakery shows how, for local businesses only, a map appears in the row of apps below the cover photo.

13. ESPN's cover photo

ESPN's cover photo is an intriguing shot from the set of its iconic Sportscenter show.

14. Baby's first show

Here, ESPN highlights its first Sportscenter broadcast with a doublewide photo in its timeline.

15. Livestrong's cover photo

Livestrong chooses to make its logo the central theme of its Page cover photo.

16. Starring an important message

Livestrong starred this post that provides resources for people under emotional duress as a result of cancer. Starring it calls extra attention to the post by making it twice as wide as others.

17. A Livestrong milestone

Organizations similar to Livestrong can highlight specific milestones, such as the opening of new services. This post celebrates the debut of Livestrong's Cancer Navigation Center.

18. Meet the admin panel

Timeline introduces a new format for administrators of brand Pages, and one that should be simpler to use.

19. Getting to know you

The admin panel features notifications, analytics, messages and, yes, a help menu to ease your transition to the new set-up.

As predicted, these new features will be a huge opportunity for brands that want to tell a more engaging and authentic story. Timeline makes it easier for people to find information by pushing the Info section, photos, apps and map to the top of the page in a clear navigation bar. Even the President has jumped on board with Timeline.

Some feel that this could be a potential downfall for companies that do not excel at providing engaging content or brands with various operations compared to those who concisely define themselves under one umbrella.

The car company's Timeline dates back to when it was founded, Oct. 31, 1957.

"We encourage you to browse through our extensive Timeline to discover (or re-discover) some of the rich history of our products, people as well as messages from our loyal fans like you," the company writes.

Lexus has included milestones throughout its Timeline, dating all the way back to its start in 1983. The cover photo is a hybrid concept.

With spring right around the corner, consider Timeline your chance to do a little housekeeping. The features require you to tidy up a bit, as well as do some research on your company's history — but the results could be quite beneficial.

At Mashable, our community team updated our own brand page to Timeline on Wednesday, and took a walk down memory lane. It's an easy way to look back on our milestones, and rediscover what we've learned from past Facebook posts throughout the years.

In addition to Timeline, Facebook plans to roll out analytics that will give Page administrators visibility for the first time about real-time activity on the site.

Will you be an early adopter of Facebook Timeline for brand pages, or wait for the inevitable switch on Mar. 30? Let us know in the comments.

What's Hot

More in Social Media

What's New

What's Rising

What's Hot

Mashable
is a leading source for news, information and resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's record 42 million unique visitors worldwide and 21 million social media followers are one of the most influential and engaged online communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.